CALDWELL, Idaho - A tenacious defensive effort helped top-ranked Eastern Oregon erase an early deficit and help the Mountaineers knocked off The College of Idaho, 60-45, inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
Box Score
Eastern (20-1, 8-1 CCC), the first school in the NAIA to reach the 20-win plateau in 2012-13, held the Yotes without a made field goal over a nearly nine minute stretch spanning the two halves, then limited The C of I to just one made field goal over a key 12 minute stretch of the second half to earn the road win.
It was an even first 13 minutes of the game, featuring three ties and five lead changes, with the Coyotes (9-10, 5-4) taking a 17-16 lead on a
Taylor Pruett three-point play with seven minutes remaining in the half. However, the Yotes would miss their final seven shots of the period, while connecting on just 2-of-11 free throws, as Eastern scored 12 of the final 13 points of the half - taking a 28-18 lead on a buzzer-beating lay-up from Michael Crane.
The lead would stretch to 31-18 on a J.D. Esters three-point play, before the Coyotes woke up.
Sydney Donaldson scored seven of his 15 second half points in an 8-0 C of I run, cutting the margin to 31-26 with 16:09 to play. The Yotes were within seven after a Donaldson jumper with 14 minutes left, but The C of I would miss 13 of their next 14 shots - as Eastern methodically extended the lead, pushing the margin to 53-36 on a pair of free throws inside the final three minutes.
Cody Thurmond led all scorers with 17 points, with Craig Tucker adding 11 points off the bench. EOU had a commanding 54-35 edge on the glass and won despite 22 turnovers and making just 34-percent of their field goal tries.
Donaldson led the Yotes with 15 points and six rebounds, with
Rodney Delgardo scoring eight of his 10 points in the first half for the Yotes. Eastern limited The C of I to just 27-percent shooting from the floor.
The Coyotes return to action next weekend, hosting Southern Oregon and Oregon Tech.
